Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen: Could It Be That I'm Really a Talisman Genius?

He quietly summoned the system, lingering on the exit game interface.

Ji Ming, who was always ready to flee home, slowly turned around, revealing a sincere smile.

"What's wrong? Is the number of copper coins I paid incorrect?"

The half-elf still had that dispirited look, as if indifferent to everything.

"The magic weapon you asked me to find last time—I already have news about it."

"I was looking to buy a magic weapon?"

Ji Ming hadn't gotten this record from the clinic's notes; for a moment he couldn't tell whether the half-elf was stating a fact or deceiving him.

However, the half-elf didn't give him time to respond and continued speaking.

"That's a battle shield from the Shen Lin Wang Guo kingdom—sturdy yet light, and it can boost the wielder's vitality."

"I think it suits you; if you want it, you can come pick it up in a few days."

Ji Ming lowered his head, pondered briefly, then spoke cautiously.

"May I ask bluntly—how much does this shield cost approximately?"

The half-elf fell silent for a moment.

"One gold coin."

One gold coin equals a hundred silver coins—not a small sum for Ji Ming now.

But vitality is indeed his biggest shortcoming; trying to increase it by leveling up is too hard.

Forget it; worst case, he'll find other ways and smash some bottles and jars.

He had to get that shield!

So he slowly nodded.

"Thank you, I'll take it."

The half-elf nodded, gathering the silver coins on the table into the drawer.

In the crisp clinking of coins colliding, the scar on his face slowly writhed.

"Human, I don't know where you got all this money, but I need to warn you of something."

He lifted his head to look into Ji Ming's eyes; the burning marks on his neck joined into a patch.

"You're still young; remember, don't regret, and don't do anything that will make you regret."

Having been in the Yangyue World for two days, Ji Ming had seen both good and bad people.

But the one giving him advice was still the first.

He exhaled, then gave the half-elf a sincere salute.

"Thank you; I'll keep it in mind."

Then he shouldered the sack and left the diseased-tree materials shop.

But after walking only fifty meters, he stopped.

A scrawny man with a huge pack was too conspicuous; he needed some minor protection and disguise.

He gritted his teeth, steeled himself, and Ji Ming took out a bottle of failed concoction from beneath his white robe.

He unscrewed the cap; no heating needed—the foul smell shot up immediately.

"Whoa, that's potent……"

He pinched his nose shut and Ji Ming poured some of it onto the sack.

Even a high-level professional wouldn't dare stride through Sunlight City carrying a big package.

After all, not to mention bandits—in this godforsaken place, even unrelated passersby might commit crimes of passion.

Once greed is aroused, they'll spontaneously form groups on the street to launch zero‑yen purchase raids—you'll have nowhere to cry!

"But what if your whole body reeks of a stench?"

Ji Ming lifted his chest, raised his head, and stepped onto the streets of Sunlight City with an easy stride.

With no wind today, the foul liquid's odor formed an invisible wall of gas around him.

"Hello."

Every passerby who entered within ten meters of him would let out an ear‑splitting scream, then cover their nose and flee while cursing.

"Have you eaten?"

Even the thugs hiding in the alleys were driven three blocks away by the stench, staring at each other, none daring to cause trouble.

As for what exactly is inside the big sack of this Chouchou Ge……

"Are you crazy? Who cares what kind of filth someone is parading around with!"

If you anger him, he'll dump the whole sack on you……

Never mind, never mind—let him go; we'll wait for the next one!

"Goodbye."

Thus, he returned to the clinic uneventfully, Ji Ming calm and composed.

He incinerated and deeply buried the sack, now a biochemical weapon, in the backyard; Ji Ming, on the verge of fainting, finally breathed fresh air.

"From now on, better use it as a thrown weapon—using it as armor would be too vicious."

He sorted the materials into the storeroom, and Ji Ming washed away the bad luck with a basin of clean water.

He took out the full set of tools for making scrolls, first reviewing the technique in the Talisman Book.

Only after adjusting his state and having everything ready did he pick up the feather pen soaked in azure‑gold ink.

Ji Ming's expression darkened; his gaunt hand emitted a faint glow.

The pen darted like a dragon and snake, completed in one breath.

Once the talisman script was finished, he lightly lifted the nib.

A brilliant yellow light suddenly sprang up from the starting point, then swiftly swept across the entire parchment.

In an instant, the damp ink became dry and solid, and the coarse paper turned supple and smooth.

The talisman reached top grade, as if naturally formed, carrying an innate aura.

Done?

Ji Ming stared for a moment.

No need to repeatedly try and waste materials; amid doubts, he only barely finished at the last moment, then showed off and slapped faces, then……

That's it?

Yellow signifies rank, brilliance signifies top grade.

Even to say, I drew a top-grade tranquility talisman in one go?

"Could it be that I'm really a talisman genius?"

Ji Ming grabbed the talisman and roughly kneaded, pulled, and tore it a few times; sure enough, it was a toughness impossible for inferior parchment.

Through the power of the seal script, it enhances the quality of the carrier—this is the so-called talisman manifestation.

After all, no matter how good the turmeric paper is, it's still paper—once wet, it's ruined.

Including the parchment Ji Ming used this time, it's not the fine parchment of magic scrolls, but a rough, unsightly scrap, with even uneven edges.

But once the talisman is completed, it becomes a three-proof spirit object—fireproof, waterproof, and tear-resistant.

"Marvelous!"

He spread out another fresh parchment, Ji Ming boldly brushed, and began drawing a new seal script.

Stability talisman, breath-holding talisman—the brilliant yellow light shone everywhere as if it were free.

However, when he rode this surge of enthusiasm and began to draw the highest-value true fire talisman in this book...

Perhaps it really ran out; this time no phenomenon appeared on the parchment.

"Just a minor issue, try again."

Yet it failed.

"Again."

Failed again.

"Uh……"

All failed.

Ji Ming wasted several sheets of parchment—not even the dull luster of inferior grade, let alone the brilliant glow of top grade.

"No, you're really just a normal skill insulator, right?"

Ji Ming sighed sadly and opened his current status panel.

【Name: Ji Ming】

【Level: 2 (80/110)】

【Race: Pureblood Human】

【Talent: Wood Element Affinity·Excellent】

【Occupation: Apothecary Apprentice】

【Vitality: 4】

【Agility: 4】

【Wisdom: 9】

【Charisma: 8】

【Combat Skill: Bludgeon】

【Life Skills】

【Corpse Sewing, Reviving Tonic Production·Basic, Coagulant Powder Production·Skilled】

【Tranquility Talisman Production·Excellent, Stability Talisman Production·Excellent, Breath-Holding Talisman Production·Excellent, Poison Grenade Production·Perfect】

Good news, the three newly learned talismans start at excellent level.

Bad news, the only perfect skill is a byproduct of failed potion brewing.

Incredible, what kind of twisted luck do I have!

While there's still time, Ji Ming pockets the talismans and prepares to head out.

AdaiEr still owes me forty experience over there; I must level up today!

Anyway, once we get there, they'll definitely escort me back, so time isn't an issue.

But as soon as he threw on his coat, he heard a hurried knocking outside.

He sighed, walked over, and pulled the door open.

"Let me guess, you were attacked by anomalies?"